As was the case in the other semi-final on Friday night, the third quarter was pivotal to the outcome of the match. The Saints were again deadly accurate with their scoring radar while the Magpies were letting key opportunities slip. The Saints won the quarter 6.1 to 1.5, extending their lead to 40 points at three-quarter time. And although the Magpies won the last quarter to salvage some respectability to the scoreboard, the damage was done.Nick Riewoldt kicked 5 goals for the Saints in a best-on-ground performance, while Stephen Milne and Justin Koschitzke both contributed 3 goals to the St Kilda cause. Nick Dal Santo was a dominant force in midfield with 32 disposals, while Steven King had the better of the ruck duel against Josh Fraser. Collingwood's inaccuracy would cost them dearly, as did their lack of a focal point up forward, the Magpies unable to find a multiple goalkicker. Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury picked up plenty of the football, creating chances up forward; but this was not Collingwood's night and nothing they tried seemed to work.And so Collingwood's season comes to an end, while St Kilda live to fight for another week. A grand final berth is on offer when the Saints take on Hawthorn in the preliminary final on Saturday night. The Saints made the prelim final in both 2004 and 2005 but failed at the last hurdle to qualify for the big day. Will it be third time lucky for the Saints?St Kilda 4.1 8.1 14.2 17.4 (106)Collingwood 3.4 4.11 5.16 9.18 (72)Goals : St Kilda - Riewoldt 5, Milne 3, Koschitzke 3, Gram 2, Dal Santo, McQualter, Schneider, Gwilt. Collingwood - Clarke, Brown, Medhurst, McCarthy, Cloke, Goldsack, Anthony, Swan, Lockyer.Best : St Kilda - Riewoldt, Dal Santo, Gram, R Clarke, Fisher, Blake, Koschitzke. Collingwood -Pendlebury, Swan, R Shaw, O'Brien, O'Bree.Injuries : St Kilda - Ball (hamstring) replaced in selected side by Allen, Allen (hip). Collingwood - Burns (calf) replaced in selected side by R Shaw, Prestigiacomo replaced in selected side by Wakelin.Reports : St Kilda - Koschitzke reported for rough conduct on Wakelin in the second quarter.Umpires - Kennedy, Rosebury, McLaren.Crowd - 76,707 at MCG.

The Western Bulldogs have advanced to a preliminary final showdown with Geelong after a 37-point win over Sydney in their semi-final clash at the MCG.Robert Murphy kicked the opening goal of the match for the Bulldogs, but there were encouraging signs for the Swans early. Barry Hall at 13 minutes marked and goaled to give the Swans the lead, then passed to Darren Jolly to extend the Swans' advantage. But late in time-on, Scott Welsh goaled to cut the margin to one point at the first change.An interchange bungle by the Western Bulldogs threatened to derail them early in the second term. Shaun Higgins was lining up for a shot for goal when an incorrect interchange was made. Tadgh Kennelly was given a free kick from the centre circle and a 50m penalty which put him within goal-scoring range; but the Swans failed to take advantage of the error, Kennelly's shot hitting the post. The Swans did lead for much of the second quarter, but replies at critical stages of the game prevented them from getting to a point where the lead was comfortable. And during the final minutes of the quarter the Bulldogs took control, a long bomb to Welsh and a mark and goal from close range by Murphy giving them a narrow 4-point lead at the long break.The premiership quarter saw the Bulldogs take control of the match, and the Swans were blown out of the contest. The Bulldogs scored 6.4 to 0.6 for the quarter, turning a close first half into a 32-point lead by three-quarter time. John Hill was the early destroyer during the quarter, a running goal followed by a mark and goal from 30 metres, extended the Bulldogs' advantage. Brian Lake outran Barry Hall to add another. Ryan Griffen stepped up to extend the advantage. The Swans were inaccurate, a poster from McVeigh from close range proving costly when the Bulldogs ran end-to-end from the kick-in to set up Will Minson.Barry Hall kicked the opening goal in the final quarter to offer just the slightest ray of hope to the Swans, but Jason Akermanis' instant reply snuffed out any hopes of a comeback. The Bulldogs would go on to kick 5.1 to 4.2 for the quarter; ending Sydney's season and putting themselves into their first preliminary final since 1998. Sydney's loss ensured the top 4 would be made up entirely of Victorian teams, a complete turnaround from just 2 years ago when no Victorian team qualified for the top 4.Matthew Boyd with 33 possessions and Lindsay Gilbee with 28 were the prolific ball-getters for the day, while Murphy scored 3 goals. For the Swans, Barry Hall's 4-goal return made him their only multiple goal-kicker, while Brett Kirk with 22 possessions was their top ball-winner.Western Bulldogs 2.3 6.5 11.9 16.10 (106)Sydney 2.4 5.7 5.13 9.15 (69)Goals : Bulldogs - Murphy 3, Welsh 2, Hill 2, Eagleton 2, Johnson, Akermanis, Minson, Griffen, Lake, Hahn, Higgins. Sydney - Hall 4, Bevan, Crouch, Goodes, Roberts-Thomson, Jolly.Best : Bulldogs - Boyd, Morris, Griffen, Murphy, Gilbee, Minson. Sydney - Hall, C Bolton, Kirk, Kennelly, McVeigh.Injuries : Bulldogs - Nil. Sydney - Nil.Reports : Sydney - Barry for striking Higgins in the fourth quarter.Umpires - Vozzo, McBurney, RyanCrowd - 42,731 at MCG.

St Kilda ended Collingwood's season, their accurate kicking enabling them to capitalise on every opportunity to score and record a 34-point victory.After an even first quarer, in which Nick Riewoldt kicked 3 of St Kilda's 4 goals, the Saints enjoyed a 3-point advantage at the first change. But the Saints grew more confident late in the second term, their 4.1 to 1.7 quarter opening the lead up to 14 points at the long break. It had been goal for goal, and the Magpies were ahead at the 15 minute mark, but goals to Gwilt, Milne and Riewoldt in succession gave the Saints the advantage.